A Russian court has jailed seven anti-government activists for up to four years in a penal colony for staging a protest against President Vladimir Putin in 2012.

The court in Moscow sentenced the protesters to between two-and-a-half years and four years behind bars.

An eighth defendant was given a suspended sentence for her role in the demonstrations.

Hundreds of people linked arms and chanted slogans outside the courtroom on Monday as the sentencing was handed down.

Police detained around 200 protesters on suspicion of violating public order.

Image Caption:The defendants in the 'Bolotnaya case' were convicted on Friday

The trial of the eight activists, known as the Bolotnaya case, relates to a May 2012 rally, which took place on the eve of Mr Putin's inauguration for a third term as president.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched through Moscow to protest against his return to the Kremlin.

Video:Pussy Riot Clash Sochi Police

The protest turned violent after police closed off Bolotnaya square, where demonstrators planned to gather. Some threw bottles and pieces of asphalt at police who responded by beating protesters with truncheons.

More than 400 people were detained.

Monday's defendants were among 29 people who faced criminal charges following the protest.

They were convicted on Friday for taking part in the rally and attacking policemen.

Amnesty International described the verdict as "hideous injustice" and condemned the hearings as a "show trial".

Another 11 of the accused were released in December under an amnesty bill considered by some to have been an attempt by Mr Putin to silence critics in the run-up to the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Two members of the punk band Pussy Riot were also freed under the bill.

Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were jailed for their role in an anti-Putin protest in Moscow's main cathedral.